Control device



June 26, 192s. 1,675,270 .1. HuRsT CONTROL DEVICE Filed July 25, 1922 5shuts-sheet 1 ||n Il Il I' IUI June 26, 1928.

J. HURST CONTROL DEVICE June 26, 192s. 1,675,270

Filed July 25. 1922 3 Shq'etS-Sheet 3 anim Patented .lune 26, 1928.

JAMES Huns'r, or SAN rnANoisco, CALIFORNIA.

CONTROL DEVICE;

Application filed July 25,

This invention is a device by means of which a valve, an indicator, orother movable element may have movement' imparted thereto.

One of the objects of the invention isto provide meansv for overcomingannoyances incident to the loss-of buoyancy of floats now in commonusein flush tanks, storage tanks, and the like, by providing acontrolling actuator, the operation of which is solely dependent 'uponits loss of weight, as it becomes wholly'or partially submerged in theliquid with which is it associated. A further object is to provide anactuator of the type mentioned, and a valve indicator, or other movablevelement, so connected therewith, that the parts will be caused tofunction in response to any movement of the actuator, due to variationsin its effective weight, brought about by the extent of its submergencewithin the liquid in which it is operating. A further object is toprovide means. to insure that the actuator has approximately the samespecific gravity as the liquid in which it is to be submerged.

he invention will be hereinafter fully set forth and particularlypointed out in the claims.

In the accompanying drawing Figure 1 is 'a longitudinal sectional viewillustrating a liquid level maintaining device, of the type associatedwith thevwellknown vacuum fuel feed systems for motor vehicles. Figure 2is a similar view illustrating the invention applied to a water closetflushing tank. Figure 3 is a sectional view illustrating a slightmodification of Figure 2. Figures 4 and 5 are sectional viewsillustrating modifications of the invention, applied to liquid levelindicating devices.

Referring to Figure 1 of the drawing, 10 designates a casing, the lowerpart of which serves as a reservoir for liquid, as indicated at 11.Suspended from the cover 12 of the casing 10, and depending'into'thelatter is a fioatchamber 14, which is provided'with an outlet pipe 15,discharging into the reservoir 11, the flow into said reservoir beingcontrolled by a lapper valve .16.

Liquid isl supplied to the floatV chamber 14 from any desired source,through yan opening in the cover 12, connected with a pipe 17. Locatedwithin the chamber 14 is `a semi-buoyant actuator, which` consists of acup-like receptacle 18, filled with liquid 18sl of approximately thesame specific gravity 1922. serial No. 577,343.

as the liquid within the chamber 14.` Preferably it is filled with thesame liquid. Said actuator is provided with a' guide stemy 19 leadingdown into the outlet pipe 15.H The upper end of the actuator 18`isprovided with an arm or bail 20, which is pivotally connectedto a lever21, which in turn is pivotally supported at 22, from a depending portion23 of the cover 12. The air within to a vent pipe 26, and the casing 10isV also .vented through an opening 274 leading to the pipe 26. v

The suction opening 24 and vent opening 25 are controlled by valves 28and 29 respectively, carried by a lever 30, pivotally supported by adepending part 31 of the cover 12. A second lever32 is pivoted to theextension 31, at the same point of connection as the lever 30, and thefree ends of said levers are connected by the spring 33, so asto-provide for a quick -movement of said levers when'the vends havepassed the dead the float .chamber 14 is exhausted through n Y center.To the other end ofthe lever 23 y is connected one end of a controlspring 34,

the other end of which is secured to the cover 12. f

In practice the actuator 18 is filledwith the liquid 18 specific gravityas the liquid contained within the'chamber 14. In other words, theactuator has practically nol buoyancy with respect to said liquid. Inoperation, assuming the float chamber and the levers 30 and 32 to be inthe positions shown in Figure 1, when the liquid level starts to lower,the weight ofy the actuator 18 is exerted upon the lever 21, drawingdown the end of lever.

32, and tensioning the spring 34. This downv ward movement continuesvuntil the lever 82 passes the dead center, whereupon valves 28 and 29are operated to close the vent 25 and to open the suction 24. The vacuumapparaof approximately the same tus will then function to deliver liquidinto the flo-at chamberrin the pipe 17. As the li 'uid level riseswithin the chamber 14, the actuator 18 becomes submerged to theextentthat it exerts little or no` pressure upon the lever 21, and offers no.resistance to its l the liquid level rises, the spring 34 gradually hasbeen unseated by Y upon the `discharge branch.

-` is .pivoted at s with liquid 52"l draws upon the lever 32, until theactuator reaches its highest position, andthe free end of said leverpasses the dead center, Wherespring 33, actuatesthe lever 30 so :as toshut the suction valve 28, and to open the vent valve 29, as shown inFigure 1. The operation of this device is more clearly described in acopending application, Serial 570.491,711, filed August 142, 1921, inwhich a specifically different form of actuator of the same generic typeis disclosed and claimed.

In Figure 2 the, invention is illustrated asy vapplied to a flush tankfor lavatories, Water closets, and the like. Referring to said igure, 40designates a tank or reservoir which may be of any desired size, shapeor style provided With a flush pipe 41. The inlet end of the flush pipeis normally closed by a plug valve 42, Which may be unseated or liftedby any suitable means, such as a chain or lever (not shown), in a mannerWellunders-tood inthe art. The usual overiiow pipe 43, connected with aflush pipe 41 and bypassing :the valve 42, is employed.

The Water or other liquid is delivered through a supply pipe 44, havinga discharge branch 45. The valve controlling the flow through said pipeis located Within a casting 46, joining the supply pipeand the The valveis not illustrated in detail, because any desired form of valve may beemployed. A movable arm 51 to a bracket -48 on the valve casing 46 in amanner to have one end projected into the casing to engage and operatethe valve (not shown). The other end of said arm is pivotally connectedto a lever 49, which is pivotally connected to a link 47, also pivotallyconnected to the bracket 48. The free end of lever 49 has suspendedtherefrom, a receptacle 52, filled of approximately the same specificgravity as the liquid flowing into the tank. It is preferred to fill thereceptacle 52 with the Vsame liquid as that flowing through pipe 44 intothe tank. The free end ofi-the link 47 is connected with a rigid lingerV53, by a counterbalancing spring 54, as shown.

In operation, assuming the parts to be in the positions illustrated infull lines Figure 2, the tank has `been emptied and the valve the dro ofthe actuator 52. Liquid is therefore flldwing into the tank. As theliquid level rises Within the tank the actuator .52 becomes submerged.As

"water continues to flow into the tank, a point `will eventuallybereached when the actuator will no longer exert pressure upon the valveand lever 50. The intakes place, the counterbalancing spring 54 isstrong enough to bring the actuatorto the dotted line position, quicklyseating the valve and holding it through the link 47 etant that thisseated, until the Weight of the actuator again Y with Figure 2, exceptAthat the counterbal-` ancing Weight 54al is utilized instead of acounterbalancing spring 54.

In Figure 4 ythe invention is illustrated as applied to a li uid levelindicating device. In this form oi1 the invention a' tank 60 isemployed, provided with the usual filling opening 61, closed by a propercap 62. All arm is pivotally connected at one end to said cap, the otherend of said arm being connected to a cup-like actuator 64 which containsliquid 64al of approximately the same specific gravi-ty as the liquidwithin the tank 60, preferably the same liquid. At any convenientlocation, spaced from the tank 10, is the indicator scale 65, and amovable pointer 6G, connected by a flexible wire 67 with the lever 63,said Wire extending through ay suitable conduit 68. To the upper end ofthe wire 67 isconnecteda counterbalancing spring 69,\Which is anchoredto an adjusting screw 70.

In operation, the normally high level of the liquid is indicated inFigure 4. As the liquid flows out, the actuator 64 drops by gravity, andmoves the pointer 66 correspondingly, at the same time exerting atension u on the spring 69.' When the tank is refille a point will bereached when the Weight of the actuator Willbe neutralized by the liquidfiowing into the tank, thereby permitting the counterbalancing springA69 to bring Vthe actuator to its normal position iilustrated in Figure4. i

In Figure 5 is illustrated a slight modification of tber deviceillustrated in Figure 4, consisting 'in connecting the spring 69 to ascrew 70? mounted inthe filling cap 62, of the tank Y `The advantages ofthe invention will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art to7rvhichi't belongs. It will be particularly noted that by means thereofannoyances incident to theless of equally `useful either forcont-rolling the leve] of liquid in the tank or reeeptacle'or forinbuoya-ncy of floats now "in common use are avoided, and the device iswithout attempting to set forth all of the forms in which it may bemade, or all of the forms of its use, what 1s claimed 1s 1- l. A controldevice of the character described comprising a tank, a movably mount` edvalve lever, avalve operated thereby, a movably supported actuator leverconnected to said valve lever, areceptacle-like actuator movablyconnected with one end of said actuator lever, and counterbalancingmeans supported independently of said actuator lever and connectedtherewith independently of said valve, said actuator being normallyfilled with liquid of approximately the same specific gravity as theliquid supplied to the tank, whereby the actuator will tend to submergeitself in the liquid within said tank, said counterbalancing meanspossessing suliicient power' to lift the actuator while the weight ofthe latterl is neutralized bjyr subinergence.

2. A control device of the character described comprising a tank, amovably mounted valve lever, a valve operated thereby, a movablysupported actuator lever pivoted to said valve lever, a receptacle-likeactuator member movably connected With one end of said actuator lever,and counterbala'ncing means supported independently of said actuatorlever and connected with the other end thereof independently of saidvalve, said actuator being normally filled with liquid of approximatelythe same specilic gravity as the liquid supplied to the tank, so thatthe actuator will tend to submerge itself in the liquid Within saidtank, said counterbalance means possessing suflicient power to lift theactuator while the Weight of the latter is neutralized by submergence.

3. A control device of the character described comprising a tank, amovably mounted valve lever, a valve operated thereby, a movablysupported actuator leverpivoted to saidv valveV lever, a receptacle-likeactuator movably connected with one end of said .ac-

tuator lever, a movably mounted counterbal- Y ance member ysupportedindependently of said actuator lever and movably@ connected therewithindependentlyof said valve, and a counterbalance spring engaging saidcounterbalance member.

4. A control device of the character described comprising a tank, aliquid supply pipe discharging thereinto, a valve controlling flow ofliquid through said pipe, a receptacle-like actuator normally filledwith liquid ofV approximately the same specific gravity as that which.flows through said pipe, a movable valve actuating lever pivotallyconnected to the valve and to said Apipe, a lever movably f supported bysaid pipe, said last mentioned lever being connected at one end to theactuator and Vat an intermediate point to the valve actuating lever, acounterbalancing spring having one end anchored to said pipe, and meansconnecting the otherend of said spring With an end of said valveactuating lever. Y In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand.

JAMES BURST.

